The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:4 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:4

KJV: But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.

YLT: and ye who are cleaving to Jehovah your God, are alive, all of you, to-day.

Darby: but ye that did cleave to Jehovah your God are alive every one of you this day.

ASV: But ye that did cleave unto Jehovah your God are alive every one of you this day.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But ye that did cleave  unto the LORD  your God  [are] alive  every one of you this day. 

What does Deuteronomy 4:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:1-14 - "take Heed To Thyself"
Strong faith was required by the two and a half tribes to leave their wives and children while they went to succor their brethren. But God's commands and assurances foreclosed all arguments. Whenever we are summoned to special service, we may consign the care of our personal interests to God. Seek first the kingdom, and all other things will be added.
Notice that Moses referred to the wondrous acts of the Exodus as only the beginning of God's wondrous works, Deuteronomy 3:24. Probably in the countless ages of eternity we shall always feel that we are witnessing only the beginning of God's self-revelation.
Moses, like Paul afterward, tried to reverse the divine decision. Compare Deuteronomy 3:23-25 and 2 Corinthians 12:8-9. Do not pray against God's will, but with it, 1 John 5:14. When God says No, there are always tender compensations, such as this Pisgah-vision.
Israel's tenure of Canaan depended on obedience to God's will, in statutes, including the ordinances of religion, and in judgments relating to civil matters. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 4

1  An exhortation to obedience
41  Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44  Recapitulation

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 4:4 mean?

But you the ones clinging to Yahweh your God [are] alive every one of you today
וְאַתֶּם֙ הַדְּבֵקִ֔ים בַּיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם חַיִּ֥ים כֻּלְּכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם

וְאַתֶּם֙  But  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
הַדְּבֵקִ֔ים  the  ones  clinging 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: דָּבֵק  
Sense: clinging, adhering to.
בַּיהוָ֖ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
חַיִּ֥ים  [are]  alive 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
כֻּלְּכֶ֖ם  every  one  of  you 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַיּֽוֹם  today 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.